The civil society organization Democracy Hub has filed a formal lawsuit at the High Court seeking the disqualification of Baba Jamal from the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election. The legal action cites allegations of widespread vote buying and the distribution of monetary inducements during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary. According to the court documents filed in February 2026, Democracy Hub argues that the integrity of the selection process was severely compromised, rendering Baba Jamal’s candidacy a threat to the nation’s democratic standards.
The lawsuit alleges that the internal NDC primary was characterized by the distribution of incentives including “viral” reports of television sets and cash to delegates to influence their votes. Democracy Hub maintains that permitting Baba Jamal to proceed as a candidate would essentially endorse a flawed electoral process and weaken public confidence in the Electoral Commission’s oversight. The group is seeking an “Exceptional” court order to prevent his participation in the March 3, 2026, by-election until a thorough and independent investigation into these allegations is completed.
In response to the pressure, the National Democratic Congress leadership recently affirmed Baba Jamal as their official candidate, citing a lack of time to conduct a new primary before the Electoral Commission’s filing deadline. However, Democracy Hub contends that electoral integrity must begin at the primary level and that the judiciary must intervene to protect the sanctity of the ballot. The development has placed significant scrutiny on the NDC’s vetting procedures and the enforcement of laws governing campaign conduct and delegate engagement during the 2026 election cycle.
As of February 17, 2026, the High Court is expected to schedule an emergency hearing to determine whether to grant an interim injunction against Baba Jamal’s candidacy. Political observers note that the outcome of this case could set a “viral” legal precedent for how internal party indiscretions are handled in future national elections. While Baba Jamal has addressed his supporters, urging unity and dismissing the claims as a distraction, the judicial determination will ultimately decide the fate of the Ayawaso East contest.
